t!1a$$acbu$ett$ Commandcrv 



of tbe 



Daval Order of the United States 




Massachusetts Commanben^ 



of tbe 



maval ®rber of tbe IHniteb States. 

1899. 



Gift 

Mrs. Julian James 

1912 






officers of tl^e (Jeperal ^Sommapdery. 
1899-1901. 

General Cofninander, 

Rear Admiral John G. Walker, U.S.N, (retired), (Pennsylvania.) 

Vice General Commanders, 

Colonel John B. Porter, (Pennsylvania). 

Rear Admiral George E. Belknap, U.S.N., (retired), (Mass.) 

Admiral George Dewey, U.S.N., (New York.) 

General Recorder, 

Lieut. Commander Leonard Chenery, U.S.N, (retired), New York). 

Assistant General Recorder, 

Rodney Macdonough, (Massachusetts.) 

General Treasurer, 

Lieutenant Jarvis B. Edson, (New York.) 

Genet al Registrar, 

James V. P. Turner, (Pennsylvania.) 

General Historian, 

Major Richard S. CoUum, U.S.M.C. (retired), (Pennsylvania.) 

General Chaplain, 

Rev. George W. Smith, D. D., LL. D., (New York.) 

General Council, 

Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley, U.S.N., (New York.) 
Rear Admiral Norman H. Farquhar, U.S.N., (Pennsylvania.) 
Rear Admiral George W, Melville, U.S.N., (District of 

Columbia.) 
Captain Henry H. Bellas, U.S.A., (retired), (Pennsylvania.) 
Medical Director George W. Woods, U.S.N. , (New York.) 
Captain Henry C. Taylor, U.S.N., (Massachusetts.) 
Rear Admiral John W. Philip, U.S.N., (Massachusetts.) 
Lieutenant Commander Edward M. Stedman, U.S.N., (retired),. 
(Illinois.) 

Paymaster John R. Carmody, U.S.N., (retired), (District of 
Columbia.) 



officers of /T\assael7U8ett5 <5o/T\fT\ai)dery. 

1899. 

Commander, 

Rear Admiral George Eugene Belknap, U.S.N., (retired.) 
Vice Commattder, 

Commander Harrison Gray Otis Colby, U.S.N. 
Recorder, 

Amos Binney. 
Tfeasurer, 

Frederick Bacon Philbrook. 
Registrar, 

Franklin Thomason Beatty, M. D. 
Historian, 

William Lithgow Willey, S. D. 
Chaplain, 

Rev. Charles Langdon Tappan. 
Councillors, 

Thomas Amory De Blois, M. D. 

Charles William Galloupe, M. D. 

Frederic Stanhope Hill. 

Lowell Dalton Hoyt. 

William Francis Joy. 

Rodney Macdonough. 

Chief Engineer David Betton Macomb, U.S.N., (retired.) 

Lieutenant Commander William Melville Paul, M.V.M. 

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George Shepley Selfridge, M.V.M. 
Committee on Membership, 

Chief Engineer David Betton Macomb, U.S.N. Chairman. 

Franklin Thomason Beatty, M. D. 

Amos Binney, Recorder, ex-officio. 



I^istorieal. 



The Naval Order of the United States developed from 
an informal gathering, on July 4, 1890, of a few gentlemen inter- 
ested in naval history. A permanent organization was effected 
Nov. 10, 1890, under the title Naval Commandery of the 
United States. The membership was restricted to officers and 
enlisted men of the Navy, Marine and Revenue Marine services 
and their descendants, and was limited in number. This organiza- 
tion is believed to be the first hereditaiy society in which eligi- 
bility was dependent on purely naval service. 

At the meeting of the Commandery, held Nov. 10, 1892, 
action was taken to broaden the field of the organization by for- 
mation of a central body with branches in the different states. 
In connection with another society (since dissolved), a provis- 
ional organization was effected on June 19, 1893, and at a special 
Congress, held Aug. 15, 1893, the General Commandery of the 
Naval Order of the United States was fully constituted, the 
parent body becoming the Massachusetts Commandery of the 
Naval Order of the United States. A change was also made 
in the eligibility clause of the Constitution, membership being 
restricted to commissioned officers and their descendents. 

Commanderies have since been instituted in Pennsylvania, 
New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia. 

The Massachusetts Commandery was incorporated Dec. 14, 
1894. 



prom tl^e QopstitutioQ. 

PREAMBLE. 

Whereas, Many of the principal battles and famous victories 
of the several wars in which the United States has participated 
were fought and achieved by the Naval forces, 

Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious deeds of 
the great Naval commanders, their companion officers in arms, 
and their subordinates in the wars of the United States should 
be forever honored and respected ; — 

Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admiration for the 
undying achievements of the Navy, we, the survivors and descend- 
ants of participants of those memorable conflicts, have joined 
ourselves together and have instituted the "Naval Order of the 
United States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity 
their glorious names and memories ; and to encourage research 
and publication of data pertaining to Naval art and science, and 
to establish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, 
books, portraits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at 
all times. 

ARTICLE III. 

membership. 

The Companions of the Order shall be of two classes. 

first class. 

Commissioned officers, midshipmen and naval cadets, or 
corps or staff oiBcers with relative rank as such, or appointed vol- 
unteer officers in line of promotion, who were in actual service 
in the Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Service under the authority 
of any of the thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the Conti- 
nental Congress during the War of the Revolution, or of the 
United States during the War with France, the War with Tripoli, 



FROM THE CONSTITUTION. 

the War of 1812, the War with Mexico, the Civil War, the War 
with Spain, or in face of the enemy in any engagement in which 
the Navy of the United States has participated, or may participate, 
and who resigned, were discharged with honor, or who are still in 
the service, or those who served as aforesaid but in a grade below 
that of a commissioned officer, midshipman, naval cadet, or corps 
or staff officer with relative rank as such or appointed volunteer 
officer in line of promotion, and who subsequently became a com- 
missioned officer, regular or volunteer, in the United States Army, 
Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Service : Provided however, that 
this clause shall not be so construed as to include officers who at 
any time have borne arms against the Government of the United 
States. 

All male descendants of those who are eligible as above speci- 
fied, or in default thereof, then one such collateral representative 
as may be deemed worthy. 

SECOND CLASS. 

Enlisted men who have received the United States Naval 
Medal of Honor for bravery in face of the enemy, may be enrolled 
exempt from fees and dues by the Commanderies of the States in 
which they reside ; such membership to be for life only. 

ARTICLE IX. 

ADMISSION OF COMPANIONS. 

Any person above the age of twenty-one years, of good moral 
character and reputation, desirous of becoming a Companion of 
the Order, shall make application in writing, setting forth claims 
of eligibility, and accompanied by proofs of the same, in which it 
must be satisfactorily shown that the service of the participant was 
other than shore duty, regularly performed in the United States 
Navy or on an armed vessel in the service of the United States or 
sailing under letters of marque and reprisal in time of war. 

Said application, bearing the endorsement of two Companions, 



FROM THE CONSTITUTION. 

and accompanied by an admission fee of not less than five (5) 
dollars, and the dues for the current year, shall be submitted to the 
Committee on Membership, who shall present their report to the 
Council of the Commandery. Upon a favorable ballot by that 
body the appHcant shall thereupon become a Companion of the 
Order. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

INSIGNIA. 

The Insignia of the Order shall consist of a gold Cross pattee, 
one and one quarter inches in diameter, the arms of blue enamel 
edged with gold. 

CROSS. 

Obverse : In the center on a circle of red enamel five-six- 
teenths of an inch in diameter, an eagle, wings extended, resting on 
an anchor surrounded by thirteen stars of five points all of gold, 
representing in substance the insignia of the Navy of the United 
States ; the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth 
of an inch wide, displaying in letters of gold the motto of the 
Order, "Fidelitas et Patria." 

Reverse: The Cross as above described. In the centre on a 
circle of red enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter shall 
appear in gold the insignia of the United States Marine Corps, 
the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an 
inch wide bearing in letters of gold the legend, "Naval Order of 
the United States." 

The Cross shall be worn on the left breast suspended by a 
ribbon of heavy ribbed white silk one and one-half inches wide, 
with a red centre three-fourths of an inch wide, the whole an inch 
and a half in displayed length. 

****** 

When the Insignia is not worn, a rosette one-half of an inch 
in diameter of the prescribed ribbon and pattern [red rim, white 
face, red loop in centre] may be worn by Companions in the 
upper button hole of the left lapel of the coat. 



Qei^eral Ipfor/r^atiop. 



The Constituted Bodies of the Order are the General Com- 
tnandery and the State Commanderies. The legislative body for 
the whole Order is the Congress, which, composed of the General 
Officers and six Delegates from each Commandery, meets in regu- 
lar session every third year, on Oct. 5th, the anniversary of the 
adoption by Congress, in 1775, of the resolutions formally author- 
izing the fitting-out of the first ships of the Navy. It may meet 
in special session upon the vote of the General Council. 

The Council in either the General or a State Commandery 
has the functions of a board of directors. 

The Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Commandery is 
held on Nov. loth, the anniversary of the establishment of the 
Marine Corps in 1775. Special meetings are held from time to 
time. 

The Admission Fee is Five Dollars ; the Annual Dues are 
Three Dollars and are payable in January of each year. 

Application for Membership is made upon a Preliminary 
Application blank. This must be filled in, signed by two Com- 
panions, and sent to the Recorder together with the Admission 
Fee, ^5.00, and Dues for the current year, ^3.00, the latter being 
however, remitted between Nov. ist, and Jan. ist. Full Applica- 
tion blanks will then be issued, which must be filled in and re- 
turned to the Recorder before action can be taken by the Council. 
The Full Application is in duplicate, one copy being for the 
General Commandery, the other for this Commandery. Candi- 
dates are elected by the Council after the investigation by the 
Membership Committee. In case of rejection all fees are re- 
turned. 

Insignia. By the provisions of the Act of Congress of Sept. 
25, 1890, officers and enlisted men of the different branches of 
the services are premitted to wear the Insignia and colors on all 
occasions of ceremony and when in full uniform. The cost of 
the Insignia is $15.00; the Rosette costs 25 cents. 

Any further information will be cheerfully furnished on ap- 
plication to the Recorder, Amos Binney, 53 State Street, Room 
41 6j Boston, Mass. 



